Industry leaders and advocacy groups are urging the pharmacy sector to unite and take decisive action to tackle critical workforce challenges. With rising burnout, recruitment struggles, and evolving professional roles, building a sustainable pharmacy workforce has become a national priority.
🧑‍⚕️ Burnout and Workforce Shortages
A recent international survey revealed that 62% of community pharmacists have experienced burnout or mental health issues due to work pressures AJP+14AJP+14retailpharmacymagazine.com.au+14. In Australia’s rural regions, pharmacy closures and overstretched staff have reached “diabolical” levels, highlighting a crisis in healthcare access AJP+1AJP+1.
Meanwhile, the push for more advanced clinical roles—such as vaccinations and prescribing—has further stretched existing capacity, increasing the need for strategic workforce planning Japha+10p3pharmacy.co.uk+10AJP+10.
🚨 Calls for Profession-Wide Strategy
Leading organisations, including the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), the Pharmacy Guild, and international bodies like the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), are calling for a comprehensive, unified approach to workforce sustainability FIP+4hospitalhealth.com.au+4AJP+4.
Their recommendations include:
- Mental health and well-being programs tailored specifically for community pharmacists — only 10% report having access to such support NABP+15retailpharmacymagazine.com.au+15AJP+15.
- Better recognition and remuneration to reflect expanding professional roles and clinical contributions NABP+11hospitalhealth.com.au+11FIP+11.
- Enhanced training pathways and career development opportunities to build capacity and retain talent NABP+3p3pharmacy.co.uk+3MDPI+3.
🌍 Global Alignment with Health Policy
These efforts align with global health frameworks—such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals—which recognise that a strong, well-supported health workforce is essential for universal healthcare. The FIP’s “Workforce Sustainability and Supporting Positive Practice” report underscores this link AJP+3FIP+3AJP+3.
đź’ˇ Moving Forward: Strength in Unity
Pharmacy leaders emphasise the need for:
- Collaborative action across industry bodies, educators, regulators, and government.
- System-based solutions like targeted funding, policy reform, and scalable support systems.
- Empowering pharmacists to work at the top of their scope through leadership, technology, and integrated care models.
🚀 As the profession transitions from traditional dispensing to broader healthcare roles, ensuring the resilience and sustainability of the pharmacy workforce has never been more vital.
